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Big
Bad Voodoo Daddy
Save My Soul
label: vanguard records
released: 07.08.03
our score: 3.0 out of 5.0
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In
the midst of the swing-dance phenomenon, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
(BBVD) was a real hot item (circa 1998). Along with the Cherry
Poppin' Daddies and the Royal Crown Revue, BBVD led the foot-flying
jitterbugging Gap influenced craze.
The
trend didn't last too long and was soon replaced by the Latin/Salsa
explosion. While BBVD (and swing dancing for that matter) did
not disappear, their presence surely dwindled since they were
doing film cameos (they were the house band in 1996's Swingers),
being beamed through such TV fare as the now deceased Party of
Five and had a major record deal (on EMI/Capitol Records).
Save
My Soul is BBVD's first disc of new material since 1999's
not so commercially successful This Beautiful Life (which
was the follow-up to 1998's Grammy nominated smash, Big Bad
Voodoo Daddy (2nd Album).
Since
the party is not as wavering around the world as it once was for
BBVD, it becomes apparent that the lack of interest in the band
has taken a bit of a toll on their energy. There are some high
points on Save My Soul in the sprightly "Always
Gonna Get Ya" (which is reminiscent of early 80's retro rockers
Roman Holiday) and mid-tempo gits as "You Know Your Wrong"
and "Oh
Yeah."
But
the horn drenched "Simple Songs" is uneven and the narrative
driven "Next Week Sometime," really doesn't catch on
fire.The
CD is saved late in the game by the raucous "I Like It,"
which oozes with all the vigor of the Spirit of '98.
One
shouldn't count BBVD out. Swing nights are still prevalent in
major cities and are a big draw at some dance venues. So we are
likely to once again see the revival of a genre that has seemingly
has the tenacity to have more comebacks than Michael Jordan.
02-Jul-2003 8:40 AM
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